Band 8d - Deputy Director of Communications, Corporate

Job overview

This is a hugely exciting time to join our communications team. Over the last 12 months, we’ve rebooted our approach to how, what and where we communicate with our audiences so we’re making an impact rather than creating a noise.

We’ve made huge strides in a short space of time. But we’re still in a work in progress. And that’s where you come in.

We need a passionate, smart and creative communications and engagement expert to help us carry on improving, bring strategic rigour to our operations and continue to integrate our content across channels so we reach our audiences effectively.

We’ve got big ambitions with a number of big redevelopment schemes in progress, including the new Watford General.

You will lead on the delivery and development of a creative communications and engagement strategy to bring these to life, and ensure our local communities, patients and staff are informed, involved and understand how it will benefit them.

You’ll be an expert in using audience insight, data to engage with local communities.  And you will have a broader leadership role within the communications team - upskilling, supporting and guiding team members.

Main duties of the job

Lead on the comms and engagement workstreams for our new development plans, including devising a delivering a multi-channel comms and engagement strategy to reach our audiences in the most effective way.

Lead on branding, messaging and positioning of the redevelopment projects, and ensure they are joined up and tell a consistent, compelling and coherent story.

Act as the strategic comms advisor for the projects and provide high quality counsel to internal stakeholders.

Foster and grow strong relationships with key local stakeholders, MPs, councillors to ensure they understand what we’re doing, the benefits and tackle any concerns proactively.

Lead on stakeholder mapping and develop a consistent approach to keeping them informed and engaged.

Inspire and motivate the communications team and create a culture of high-performance and empowerment.

Use proven evaluation techniques to assess the success of communications outputs.

Role model the behaviours linked to our values.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Broad leadership responsibilities for communications and engagement across the Trust.

Work in close partnership with senior colleagues and stakeholders to raise awareness and support for our work, and effectively engage with our key audiences on specific workstreams.

Deputising for the Director of Communications as and when required.

Build and foster strong relationships with local, specialist and where appropriate national media.

Integrate ‘good news stories’ and features across our channels, to optimise reach and impact.

Ensure that the trust’s views are always represented by overseeing press releases and interviews and inputting into consultation responses and Freedom of Information requests from the media.

Oversee the production of internal communications material that engages the workforce and provides them with the information they need to care for their patients and be effective ambassadors for the trust.

Please refer to the attached document for the complete job description.